Mail-pouch lifter



{No Model.)

R. J. HUNT.

MAIL POUCH LIFTER.

Patented Dec. 5, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RATHBUN J. HUNT, OF TRUMANSBURG, NEIV YORK.

MAIL-POUCH LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 509,906, dated December5, 1893.

Application filed January 25, 1893. Serial No. 459.701- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, RATHBUN "J. HUNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Trumansburg, in the county of Tompkins and State of NewYork, have invented a new and useful Mail Pouch and Sack Lifter, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail pouch and sack lifters, and has for itsobject to conveniently raise a pouch or sack over a distributing tableor other place for the purpose of dumping the mail thereon, and isespecially usefulin connection with sacks of any description where it isdesired to have the contents thereof emptied upon suitable surfaces orinto receptacles.

With this object in view, the invention consists of the construction andarrangement of the parts as will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail distributingtable and theimproved device mounted thereover and shown as holding asack in elevated position and emptying the mail upon the said table.Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail perspective of the elevating device properdetached and showing a pulley at the head thereof. Fig. 8 is a similarview of the elevating device proper, showing an eye at the head thereof.Fig. 4 is adetail view, in elevation, showing a double form of thedevice.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 designates the main frame,which is of substantially U shaped form in inverted position,

and has one leg, 2, thereof slightly shorter than the opposite leg, andits inner side curved or flared outwardly, as at 3. The opposite leg 4has its lower end bifurcated, as at 5, in which is pivotally mounted theflange-extension 6, of a cam-lever 7, the latter having its outer endformed asahook 8. The outwardly curved or flared inner surface 3 of theleg 2 is of considerable width, and the inner portion of the cam-leverthat is adapted to contact with the said outwardly curved or flaredsurface is similarly broadened, and by this means a firm biting effectisproduced between the two surfaces. The said cam-lever is pivoted at sucha point, and the inner end thereof is bent upwardly in such a manner, asto cause a direct transverse pressure between the engaging surface ofthe said inner end of the cam-lever and the outwardly curved or flaredportion 3 of the leg 2, the said contacting point of the said partsbeinglocated above the pivotal point of the said cam-lever, to therebyproduce a locking effect and a rigid binding.

As shown in Fig. 1, the material of the sack, at the end thereofopposite to the mouth of the same, is passed between the inner end ofthe cam-lever and the outwardly curved or flared inner surface 3 of theleg 2, while the sack is lying in a horizontal position on thedistributing table. As soon as the lifting or gripping device proper iselevated, the weight of the sack will draw the cam-lever downwardlyagainst the portion of said sack held or passed between the inner end ofthe cainlever and the adjacent engaging surface of the leg 2, andthereby cause a tight grip to be sustained upon the sack, and making itconvenient to empty the contents thereof upon the distributing table.The hook S of the cam-lever is intended to engage the loop orcross-strap at the bottom of pouches, and the latter is in a similarmanner elevated for the same purpose. In removing the sack fromengagement with the cam-lever and the adjacent surface of the leg 2, itis only necessary to pull the hook 8 outwardly from the frame 1, whenthe device will be in condition to again be applied to another sack, andso on indefinitely. In removing the pouch from the hook 8, it is merelyslipped off therefrom and the device, after being sufficiently lowered,can be readily attached to another pouch in the same manner asheretofore set forth.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2,a pulley 9 is connected to the upper centralportion of the frame 1, and therethrough is passed an elevating cord,rope, or cable 10, having its one free end secured to the bottom ofasheave or pulley 11, that is secured to the ceiling or beam overhead,or other supporting surface, and through said sheave is passed the 0pposite end of the cord, rope or cable, the latter then being brought downin a convenient position to the distributing table. By this means itwill be seen that the sack or pouch may be readily and convenientlyelevated bya double fall, but as shown in Fig. 3, a single fall may beequally well used by passing the cord, rope, or cable through an eye 12,formed at the head of the frame 1. In this latter form of the devicealso it will be observed that the inner end of the cam-lever is serratedor roughened to facilitate the gripping action thereof and preventslipping or disconnection of the sack therefrom.

The device may be as well employed for other uses, in other places andin other arts, wherever it is desired to conveniently elevate and emptylarge sacks or bags of material, and the size thereof can be varied asfound necessary for different uses. Among others may be mentionedloading and unloading vessels or cars and transferring heavy sacks oranalogous bodies from one part of a Warehouse tovanother, or in loadingor unloading wagons for the purpose of transportation or storage.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction maybe resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificingany-of the advantages of this inventio'n.

In Fig. 4: a slight modification or adaptation of the improved device isshown. A yoke 12 of triangular form is provided, having hooks 13 at theopposite ends thereof and an eye 14: at the apex of the same, that is.engaged by a hook 15, of a pulley 16, having a suitable elevating-cordl7 engaging the same. One of the lifting devices is applied to each ofthe hooks 13, as shown, and is adapted for the purpose of lifting veryheavy sacks or pouches, it being seen that the arrangement in this formwill provide for two points of attachment and will also keep the sack orpouch spread while emptying the contents therefrom. This arrangement ofthe device will be found very useful in many instances, and reinforceseach of the lifting devices in elevating very heavy objects.

Having described the invention, Whatis claimed as new is 1. Inadevicefor the purposes specified, the combination with a frame havingoppositely situated legs and a lower opening or entrance the of a camlever pivoted to the lower endof one of the legs and having itscamportion extending upwardly between said legs above the point of pivot,and adapted to bind at its outer side or face against the companion legof the frame above said pivot, substantially as speci- I of the frameabove said pivot, said lever being extended at its outer end beyond itspivot in the form of a hook, substantially as specified.

3. Ina device forthe purposesspecified, the combination with an invertedU shaped frame having one leg thereof outwardly curved and flared, of acam lever pivoted between its ends eccentrically with relation to itscam surface to the lower end of the remaining leg, and having its innercam end ex, tending above its point of pivot to engage the said flaredleg of the frame, said lever having its outer end extended beyond itspivot to form a hook, a pulley at the upper end of the frame, asuspension cord, rope or cable ongaging said pulley, and a second pulleywith which said cord, rope or cable also engages whereby the device maybe raised or lowered, substantially as specified.

4. In a device for the purposes specified, the combination with atriangular frame terminating at its opposite ends in hooks, and at itsupper angle provided with an eye, of a pulley connected to the eye,opposite inverted U shaped frames connected to the hooks, and cam leverspivoted to one of the lower ends of each of the frames and having theircam ends extending above their points of pivot and adapted to bindagainst the opposite terminals thereof, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

RATHBUN .I. HUNT. Witnesses.

J OHN H. SIGGERS, GEo. O. SHOEMAKER.

